Azerbaijan breaks ground for its Expo pavilion

Business Bureau, Gulf Today

DUBAI: Azerbaijan revealed the design of its Country Pavilion for Expo 2020 Dubai on Wednesday  after receiving its plot and breaking ground on the nature-inspired pavilion earlier that afternoon.

The ground-breaking ceremony took place on the Azerbaijan pavilion plot at the Expo 2020 Dubai site, in the presence of the General Commissioner Mr. Anar Alakbarov, Assistant to the First-Vice President and Director of the Heydar Aliyev Center and Najeeb Mohammed Al-Ali, Executive Director, Dubai Expo 2020 Bureau.

Alakbarov officially launched the construction of the pavilion alongside two Azerbaijani children, highlighting the vital role that future generations will play in sustainable development.

Alakbarov said: «We are very proud to break ground on our pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai.”

“Visitors to our pavilion will be made aware of their own power to have an impact on the environment and on social ecosystems. The pavilion will be light-filled, transparent and welcoming, coming to life with events and opportunities to meet – just like our country!”

Later in the evening, the Republic of Azerbaijan for Pavilion Design Review hosted a reception at the House of Azerbaijan in Dubai. Government officials and diplomats from various countries were in attendance.

The theme chosen for the Azerbaijan Pavilion is ‘Seeds for the Future’, conveying the message that it is only by investing in the future – today – that people can truly achieve sustainable development and improve the places in which they live and work.

The project is supported by the Heydar Aliyev Center. The pavilion, which occupies a 2,086 square metre plot, was designed by the Italian company Simmetrico.

The pavilion’s architecture is inspired by two iconic natural elements: the tree and the leaf. It is designed to offer a place where Expo visitors can reflect on major issues related to sustainable development. Expo 2020 Dubai will run from 20 October, 2020 to 10 April, 2021 and expects to record 25 million visits, with 70 per cent of visitors projected to come from outside the UAE – the highest proportion of international visitors in the 168-year history of World Expos.

A total of 190 nations have confirmed their participation in Expo 2020, highlighting the status of the UAE as a global destination that brings people and countries together.

The theme chosen is ‘Seeds for the Future’. This slogan points out that it is only by investing in future – today – that we can truly achieve sustainable development and improve the places in which we live and work.

The theme of the Pavilion is the bright reflection of the value of human capital – the subject and the object, the initiator and the prime beneficiary of change – and is closely linked to the theme of Expo 2020 Dubai, ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’.

A team from the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Heydar Aliyev Center shared its know-how with the international Simmetrico team, which is composed of professionals including project managers, architects, creative directors, art directors, content research and development teams, graphic designers, video makers, user experience designers, design consultants, IT managers, technology experts and many more.

The project is led by the Heydar Aliyev Center with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation.

The exhibition area is a total of 550 m2. Five thematic content groups will be exhibited to the public using interactive and multimedia stations.

The building is 14 metres tall and extends 4 metres into the subsoil, for an overall height of 18 metres. The lot is 2,086 m2 divided as follows: approx. 500 m2 of covered area

approx. 260 m2 of underground piazza with stage and tribune over 1,300 m2 of gardens and walkways. The pavilion has three levels: the basement level is spread over 700 m2 the ground floor over 430 m2 the mezzanine VIP area over 175 m2.  

MEAN. Reducing demand for materials, energy, water and other resources. For example, creating guidelines for building designers to ensure demand is low from outset, by utilising passive measures such as natural heating, lighting, ventilation and external shading.

LEAN. Ensuring that materials and systems are used responsibly and efficiently. For example, reducing distribution losses for energy (or water) between generation and usage. This might involve supplying heat, cooling, power and water from an on-site source.

GREEN. Supplying any remaining requirements from renewable sources to minimise residual carbon emission. For example, solar power or rainwater harvesting.